26 Apr 2017

St.Fleur: Bahamian fans key to FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup success

The Bahamas forward is eager to make the most of home advantage in Nassau.

Hosts Bahamas have skill, strength and plenty of talent within their ranks going into the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup but, according to forward Lesly St.Fleur, their passionate fanbase will prove the best weapon.

The Rake 'n' Scrape Boys gained a creditable sixth-placed finish at the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship in Nassau earlier this year but, with added pressure and a tougher level of opposition, the stakes are much higher this time around.

If the Bahamas' maiden FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup appearance is to be a success, one man who will be key is star man St.Fleur - scorer of 11 goals in qualification.

“The CONCACAF event was good preparation for the class we’ll face at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup,” St.Fleur explained after he and his team-mates finished training at the National Beach Soccer Arena at Malcolm Park.

“I’ve been training hard and my mind is ready for the next week or so. Our preparations have been good, we train seven days a week and we’ve put in the work - now it’s nearly here.

“So we’ve just got to go put in the work on the field and come out victorious in the first game.”

St.Fleur and his colleagues may seek to take things one game at a time initially but a showpiece event on home sand isn’t a regular occurrence and he knows the Bahamas must seek to make a statement over the coming days.

“Of course we set our targets, our goal is to get out of the group stage and reach the semi-finals,” he added.

And how do they go about doing that? By maximising the aforementioned traits and combining them with the advantage of home support in Nassau.

“Our fans are our best weapon, they have to come out and support us and cheer the team,” he continued.

“Without them, we wouldn’t be here so we’re looking forward to their continued support. We’d ask them all to come out and encourage the team again, watch some beautiful beach soccer and have some fun.”